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26 September 2025
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AUTUMN ASSEMBLY | Strengthening Europe’s mission: EU bishops to convene in Brussels on 1-3 October
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23 September - The bishops of the European Union will gather in Brussels from 1 to 3 October 2025 for the COMECE Autumn Plenary Assembly. The meeting will focus on the role of the European Union amid today’s international scenario, marked by instability, lack of multilateral dialogue and growing military and economic rivalry among regional powers.
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In this context of geopolitical turmoil, the bishops of the EU will reflect on the pressing need to revitalise the Union so as to avert the risk of international irrelevance, taking Europe’s fouding vision as a starting point.
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The Assembly will provide an opportunity to reaffirm the importance of strengthening the EU’s role as a promoter of dialogue and peace worldwide, while also fostering solidarity, responsibility, unity and justice within its borders.
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Particular attention will be devoted to key areas such as migration and asylum, defence, the rule of law, the protection of fundamental rights and the social impact of emerging technologies, especially those based on Artificial Intelligence. The Assembly will feature the participation of EU Commissioner Magnus Brunner, EP Vice-President Antonella Sberna and EC Special Adviser Klaus Welle. Read the Press Release
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AUTUMN ASSEMBLY | Mass for Europe to be celebrated in Brussels on Wed 1 October 2025 at 19:00
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23 September - During the Autumn Assembly there will be a number of moments of prayer, most notably the Mass for Europe, to be celebrated at the Église de Notre-Dame des Victoires au Sablon, Brussels, on Wednesday 1 October 2025 at 19:00. The Mass will be presided over by H.E. Mgr Mariano Crociata, President of COMECE, and concelebrated by all the delegate bishops. Participation in the Mass is open to the public and no prior registration is required.
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INTERVIEW | President of EU bishops Mgr Crociata amid international tensions: "Europe must not succumb to fear. Resolve, unity and a vision of peace are key"
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23 September - "Europe must not succumb to fear. Resolve, unity, and a vision of peace are key," said Mgr Mariano Crociata, President of COMECE, in an insightful interview with the news agency AgenSir. He discussed the current role of the EU in the international arena, the role it ought to play, and the challenges it faces in becoming a genuine global actor capable of promoting the foundational values at the heart of its history. Read the full interview: IT | EN
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NEWS | Christian Group on Migration and Asylum expresses concern about EU return proposal
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18 September - The Christian Group on Migration and Asylum, a coalition of Churches and agencies from across Europe that includes the Secretariat of COMECE, has expressed serious concerns about the EU Commission's draft regulation for a new common European system for returns. Through this statement, the Christian Group on Migration and Asylum reaffirmed its conviction that EU migration policies must be rooted in “the respect for human dignity, fundamental rights and the rule of law.” The Group also expressed the hope that EU institutions and Member States will take their concerns and expertise into account “to ensure a dignified return process.” Read the Press release and the Statement
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DOCUMENT | COMECE submits contribution to EU consultation on the MFF in the fields of Culture, Education and Youth
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16 September - COMECE released its contribution to the European Commission’s public consultation on the Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) 2028–2034, focusing on cross-border education, training and solidarity, youth, media, culture, the creative sectors, values and civil society.
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The contribution “Dare and care to invest in the future” has been elaborated by COMECE on the basis of input received from the members of its Commission on Culture and Education and its Youth Platform.
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With this contribution, COMECE urges the institutions to commit to the future of European citizens by providing stronger financial support and urgent investments in study and training mobility, as well as support for the EU Member States, which hold the primary responsibility for building resilient and future-proof education systems and cultural environments. Read the Press Release and the Contribution
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EVENT | “AI and Human Trafficking: threats, tools and legal frontiers” – Conference at the European Parliament, 30 September. Registration now open
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19 September - COMECE warmly invites you to attend the conference “Artificial Intelligence & Human Trafficking: Threats, Tools, and Legal Frontiers”, to be held at the European Parliament in Brussels on Tuesday, 30 September 2025, from 14:00 to 16:00.
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Hosted by MEP Javier Zarzalejos (EPP, Spain) and co-organised by COMECE and the Santa Marta Group, the conference provides a platform to shed light on and discuss the opportunities and challenges in combating human trafficking in Europe. Info & Registration
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NEWS | Autumn meeting of the COMECE Legal Affairs Commission
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17/18 September - Mgr Hoogenboom presided over the autumn meeting of our Legal Affairs Commission. In dialogue with EU officers and academics, legal advisors addressed erasure from baptism records, Churches and non-discrimination rules, Omnibus IV package, EU Democracy Shield & child sexual abuse laws.
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VIDEO | COMECE President Mgr Crociata in Tallinn for the beatification mass of Archbishop Eduard Profittlich
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6 September - Watch the full video of the beatification Mass of Archbishop Eduard Profittlich SJ, held in Tallinn’s Freedom Square this early September. Our President Mgr Mariano Crociata joined the celebration recognising Mgr Profittlich as a martyr. Watch the full video
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NEWS | COMECE in Denmark exchanging on Christian citizenship, peace and EU integration
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15/17 September - General Secretary Fr. Manuel Barrios Prieto and Adviser Marek Misak took part in an ecumenical conference in Nyborg (Denmark) organised by the Conference of European Churches (CEC). It was an occasion to discuss the topic of Christian citizenship in Europe and exchange perspectives for security and peace and the future of EU integration.
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NEWS | Secretary General participates in SECAM’s 20th Plenary Assembly in Kigali
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4 August - At the invitation of the Symposium of Episcopal Conferences of Africa and Madagascar (SECAM), COMECE Secretary General, Fr. Manuel Barrios Prieto, took part in the 20th Plenary Assembly held in Kigali, Rwanda, from 30 July to 4 August 2025.
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This offered Fr. Barrios Prieto the possibility of sharing some of the most recent COMECE initiatives concerning Africa, including joint activities with SECAM, emphasising the importance of further strengthening collaboration between the episcopates of Africa and the European Union.
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It also offered the possibility of drawing attention to relevant initiatives in the context of EU–Africa relations, including the upcoming 7th Summit between the leaders of the 27 EU Member States and the 55 countries of the African Union (AU) to be held in November.
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MEMORY | Memorial Mass honoring the life and service of Mgr Noël Treanor
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15 September - A Holy Mass in memory of H.E. Mgr. Noël Treanor was held on Monday, 15 September 2025 in the Church Notre-Dame des Victoires au Sablon, Brussels. The Holy Mass will be presided over by H.E. Mgr Bernardito Cleopas Auza, Apostolic Nuncio to the European Union.
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Mgr. Noël Treanor passed away in 2024. He served as General Secretary of COMECE (1993-2008), Delegate of the Irish Episcopate to COMECE (2009-2022), Vice-President of COMECE (2018-2022), President of Justice and Peace Europe (2018-2022) and Apostolic Nuncio to the EU (2022-2024).
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OPPORTUNITY | Angelicum offers six scholarships on Catholic Social Teaching
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15 September - Are you a European student aged 22–40 seeking to deepen your knowledge of Catholic Social Teaching? The Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas (Angelicum) offers 6 scholarships from mid-Feb to mid-Jun 2026 at its Faculty of Social Sciences. Deadline: 31 Oct 2025. Apply: https://angelicum.it/cst-tx-2026/
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PUBLICATION | Our 2024 Annual Report is now online!
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26 June - Initially released in print last March 2025 during the COMECE Plenary Assembly in Nemi (Italy), the COMECE 2024 Annual Report is now accessible in digital format as well.
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The report opens with an introduction by H.E. Mgr Mariano Crociata, who shares insights into our activities throughout 2024 – a year shaped by the European Parliament elections and marked by tragic events in Ukraine and the Holy Land.
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The Annual Report offers a comprehensive overview of COMECE’s work across its various areas of competence, summarising the most significant initiatives undertaken in the context of its mission of dialogue with the institutions of the European Union. Read the News | Download the 2024 Annual Report
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SECRETARIAT | COMECE is grateful to former advisers Dogliani and Moravitz for their service and contribution
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25 September - Our advisers Emilio Dogliani and Johannes Moravitz have recently left the COMECE Secretariat after few years of service. We sincerely thank them for their friendship and their precious contribution to the promotion of the common good in Europe. We wish them every success in the future.
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The dossiers on Culture, Education, and Youth will now be overseen by Luca Fabbris, who has just completed an internship in these areas within our Secretariat. Further information on the remaining dossiers will be shared in the coming weeks.
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Next at COMECE
24-28 September
COMECE Adviser José Luis Bazán will participate in an International Expert Meeting co-sponsored by the International Catholic Jurists Forum and Ave Maria School of Law. The meeting will take place in Washington DC, USA.
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25-27 September
COMECE Adviser Marek Misak will participate in the Advisory Board meeting of “SocioMovens” to be held in Poznan, Poland.
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26-27 September
COMECE General Secretary will participate in the International Krakow Conference titled “A lonely Europe?”. The conference is co-organised by COMECE and promotes the role of Christians in the in integration process of the European Union. More info
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30 September
COMECE and the Santa Marta Group organise a conference on Human Trafficking and Artificial Intelligence (AI) to be held at the European Parliament. Info & Registration
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Meeting of the Standing Committee to be presided over by Mgr Mariano Crociata.
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1-3 October
Autumn Plenary Assembly of COMECE to be held in Brussels. More info
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1 October
Mass for Europe to be celebrated by the EU Bishops at the Church of Notre-Dame des Victoires au Sablon, Brussels. More info
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3-6 October
International Workshop “Hope for peace in Europe” and General Assembly of Justice and Peace Europe (JPE) to be held in Vilnius, Lithuania.
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5-7 October
COMECE Adviser José Luis Bazán will participate in the XXXII Annual International Law and Religion Symposium to take place in Brigham Young University, Provo, Utah, USA.
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6-8 October
General Secretary Fr. Manuel Barrios Prieto will be in Strasbourg, France, on the occasion of the Plenary Session of the European Parliament.
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Commission of the Bishops’ Conferences
of the European Union
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Communication & Press Manager
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